Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The working week is an important part of people's lives, and some people believe that employees should work fewer days and have a longer weekend. I agree with this opinion because a shorter working week can improve workers' health and productivity, although some businesses may face difficulties in making this change.

Firstly, having a longer weekend can help employees get more rest and reduce stress. Many workers spend most of their weekdays working, travelling to and from work, and completing household responsibilities. As a result, they may not have enough time to relax or spend time with their families. An additional day off would allow them to recover physically and mentally. For example, a person who works five days a week could use a three-day weekend to spend time with family, exercise or take part in hobbies. This could improve their overall quality of life.

Secondly, shorter working hours can also increase productivity. When workers are tired, they may make more mistakes and find it difficult to concentrate. In contrast, well-rested employees are more likely to be focused and motivated during working hours. For instance, if a company changes from a five-day working week to a four-day week while maintaining reasonable working hours, employees may complete their tasks more efficiently. This could also reduce stress and improve job satisfaction.

However, some businesses may find it difficult to introduce a shorter working week. Industries such as healthcare, transportation and customer service often need employees to be available every day. In such cases, companies may need to use different shifts or hire additional staff. Despite this, I believe these challenges can be managed through proper planning.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. It can provide people with more time to rest and improve their productivity, although certain industries may need to make special arrangements to maintain their services.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. Each paragraph presents a relevant supporting idea—improved well-being and increased productivity—which are well-developed with logical explanations and illustrative examples. You also demonstrate a balanced approach by acknowledging the potential challenges for specific industries, which adds depth to your argument. The conclusion effectively summarises your stance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your examples by incorporating more specific real-world evidence or hypothetical scenarios to demonstrate a deeper level of critical thinking.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Your essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In contrast', and 'Despite this' to guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The referencing is clear throughout, and the flow of information is natural. To improve further, ensure that you vary your cohesive devices even more to avoid a slightly formulaic structure, though your current usage is already very effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. You use topic-specific terms such as 'productivity', 'job satisfaction', and 'industries' appropriately. While your vocabulary is accurate and clear, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations that demonstrate a more nuanced command of the language. For example, instead of 'make this change', you could use 'implement this transition', and instead of 'difficult', you might use 'logistically challenging'. Your spelling is accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You display a good command of grammatical structures, using a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. Your control over punctuation and sentence construction is strong, and there are very few errors. You successfully use conditional structures ('if a company changes...') and modal verbs ('may make', 'can be managed') to express your ideas with appropriate nuance. The majority of your sentences are error-free. To reach the highest band, ensure you incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more sophisticated passive constructions, while maintaining your current high level of accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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